The Female Farmer Project™ Podcast
63 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 94 ratingsThis podcast is where we mow down ‘grass’ ceilings. Host Audra Mulkern leads conversations with farmers, scientists, journalists, technologists, entrepreneurs and advocates. Together, they elevate the invaluable traditional, cultural and experience-driven knowledge that women contribute to agriculture.
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Episodes
She Cultivates: Young Women in STEM and Agriculture
February 29, 2024 08:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBAt the tender age of 16, Xinlan Tanner’s journey is one of determination, passion, and a love for her flock of sheep. Xinlan's story begins in Kenai, Alaska. Mentored by her mother in STEM and Abby Ala in farming, she is committed to learning, and growing and has become a local success story. Her efforts caught the attention of local food advocates and her farm work was highlighted in the documentary, Nourishing the Kenai, shining a spotlight on her story of determination and success. Show ...
Bridging the Agricultural Divide: Advocacy and Communication
February 13, 2024 10:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MBIn this episode, Audra welcomes Judy Sanchez, an experienced communicator with a deep connection to agriculture. Judy shares her childhood experiences on her family farms, highlighting the magical and educational moments spent helping her grandparents. The conversation explores Judy's path to agricultural communications, her endeavors in advocating for farming, and her efforts to connect farmers with the broader public, all underscored by the vital role farmers play in supplying essential re...
Growing Aloha 'Aina: Culture, Heritage, and Legacy
October 24, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 44.4 MBIn conversation with Ku'uipo Garrido of Na Mea Kupono Farm and Learning Center on the north shore of O'ahu in Hawai'i. Our discussion centers on the preservation and nurturing of the unique culture, heritage, and legacy of growing Kalo and connecting with the land. Show Notes Let's Connect on Instagram!
From Flocks to Fabric: Tracing the Threads of Wool in America's History
October 10, 2023 12:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MBFrom Two Decades in the Military to First-Generation Farming in Rural Utah. Meet Annette Allan of Wild Red Clover Ranch and Fiber Mill, who now raises alpacas, wool sheep, and operates one of the nation's rare fiber mills. Explore the intriguing history of wool in the Americas and the journey of a beginning farmer with us. Show notes Let's Connect on Instagram
Fields of Change: Representative Chellie Pingree on Farming, Equity, and the Future of Agriculture
September 26, 2023 12:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MBFarmer and U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joins us to provide the latest developments on the 2023 Farm Bill and shed light on the USDA Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, a vital initiative aimed at rectifying historical loan discrimination within the agricultural sector. Representative Pingree passionately advocates for gender equality in agriculture, recognizing the pivotal role women play in the field. She shares her personal journey, transitioning from farming to a career in...
Balancing the Books of American Agriculture with Beth Hoffman
September 12, 2023 12:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBCan we balance the books of American Agriculture? Beth Hoffman an agricultural journalist, university professor, and Iowa farmer joins the podcast to discuss her new book, “Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America”. Our wide-ranging conversation centers around dispelling the myths about America’s farms and farmers, and the reality of the punishing economics of modern farming.www.femalefarmerproject.org
Pumpkins, Potatoes and Pizza with Lexi Westover
December 15, 2021 20:58 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBFirst-generation Farmer Lexi shares what her first year of farming looked like and how pumpkins, potatoes and pizza played a big role in her journey.SHOW NOTES:http://www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2021/12/15/pumpkins-potatoes-and-pizza-with-lexi-westoverLETS CONNECT:www.twitter.com/femalefarmerswww.instagram.com/rootedinthevalley/www.facebook.com/FemaleFarmerProject/www.femalefarmerproject.org
Farm (and other F words) with Sarah K Mock
November 09, 2021 00:39 - 57 minutes - 39.7 MBWhy do we love the idea of small family farms? Our guest, Sarah K Mock says it’s because we’ve been told the stories about family farms from an early age through nursery rhymes and picture books. But does that bucolic ideal exist? Sarah provides an agriculture insider’s critique of the romantic agrarian ideal of the small family farm. She lays bare the shortcomings of that narrative — not all is as virtuous as it seems. In this thought-provoking conversation, Mock challenges the many concepti...
Eat, Drink and Cranberry - a conversation with Amber Bristow
October 13, 2021 17:35 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBHave you ever wondered about how cranberries get harvested for your holiday table? Farmer Amber Bristow shares her journey as a 5th generation cranberry farmer and demystifies the cranberry growing and harvesting process for farmer-owned Ocean Spray. Spoiler - it's so cool!SHOW NOTES:http://www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2021/10/13/eat-drink-and-cranberry-a-conversation-with-amber-bristowLETS CONNECT:www.twitter.com/femalefarmerswww.instagram.com/rootedinthevalley/www.facebook.com/Fe...
Fighting to keep the family farm - a conversation with Cynthia Ryan
September 23, 2021 20:32 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MBThe common media representation of agriculture is one sentimentality — of bucolic green fields with grazing livestock or amber grain fields being harvested with synchronous combines. In our conversation with Cynthia Ryan we dig deeper. She is a woman who wears many hats; farmer, university professor, caregiver, wife, writer, mother, daughter. Cynthia eschews the sentimentality and strips the varnish off and gives us a true look into the battle to save the family farm.SHOW NOTES:www.femalefarm...
The Frozen Farmer With Katey Evans
August 31, 2021 02:11 - 54 minutes - 37.3 MBFarmer Katey Evans had a challenge - extra farm fresh produce that couldn’t be sold to her large grocery customer because of imperfections. She turned those misfit fruits into profits by turning them into sorbet, and frobert™. Her Frozen Farmer products can be found on shelves nationwide and her journey is as inspirational as it is aspirational.SHOW NOTES: http://www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2021/8/26/the-frozen-farmer-with-katey-evansLETS CONNECT:www.twitter.com/femalefarmerswww.i...
The Grass Ceiling of Women in Ag and AgTech
August 03, 2021 18:03 - 54 minutes - 37.1 MBWomen in Ag and AgTech are creating solutions to agricultures’ biggest challenges. AgTech is an emerging category with potential to impact those challenges. Yet women founders remain underfunded and underrepresented. How do we challenge the status quo and the structural bias? Our guest Amy Wu tackles that issue by storytelling through her project, From Farms to Incubators.SHOW NOTES:www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2021/8/3/the-grass-ceiling-of-women-in-ag-and-agtechLETS CONNECT:www.tw...
Prioritizing soil health for a better world with Dr Jennifer Wells
July 06, 2021 19:36 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBWe welcome Dr Jennifer Wells, an agronomist with Land O'Lakes, Truterra to the podcast in honor of Soil Health Day. Together, we examine the impact of soil health on the way we produce food and how we can leverage technology to measure and improve soil health for a food system that is more resilient to climate change. We also discuss the gender gap in science, tech, and agriculture -- and her advice to young women who are considering ag science as a career.SHOW NOTES:http://www.femalefarmerpr...
Be Persistent, Don't Give Up, Be the Best with Mary Mooney of Mooney Farms
June 17, 2021 00:37 - 58 minutes - 40.5 MBMary Mooney of Mooney Farms is the 3rd generation of a family and woman-owned farm. She is a powerhouse entrepreneur and pioneer who took the farm from near bankruptcy during the 1980s farming crisis to a $6million company in five years. Owner of the popular Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomato Brand — Mary has learned many lessons in business and life that she shares in this conversation with Audra. Mooney talks about raising $30k in 30 days to save the farm, how she created many unique and deli...
Mental Wellness for Farmers with Alana DiPesa
June 01, 2021 19:51 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBFemale Farmers can suffer from isolation, hard physical labor, numerous things that are out of their control like markets, weather and a global pandemic. For many women – there is also the invisible unpaid labor that often comes in the shape of domestic duties and mothering. In this conversation with psychotherapist, licensed clinical social worker, and farmer Alana DiPesa we tackle the shame and stigma around mental health for farmers and farmworkers. Alana shares resources, best practices, ...
Reframing the story of Black Farmers with Karen Washington
February 03, 2021 00:59 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBIn this conversation with Karen Washington, we unpack the narrative of Africa’s descendants and their agricultural past. We also tackle the biggest misconceptions that the public has about food access in communities of color. We talk about the racial inequities in the food system, and how food apartheid is an economic and power issue. We also learn about the new Black Farmer Fund and the work they are doing to create social capital and communal wealth in Black communities. A Cultivating Cultu...
Ethical Meat with Meredith Leigh
January 20, 2021 00:59 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBThe Vegan turned Farmer, Butcher, Author, and Educator Meredith Leigh joins us to discuss her new book, Ethical Meat. As a deep systems thinker, Meredith shares her thoughts on morality, power, privilege, and race in the context of our food system. We also dig into the COVID accelerated change we saw in 2020 and making space for women’s voices.SHOW NOTES:www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2021/1/19/ethical-meat-with-meredith-leighLETS CONNECT:www.twitter.com/femalefarmerswww.instagram.co...
Estimated Breeding Values with Michelle Canfield
October 28, 2020 17:17 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBThis is part two of our live recorded episodes from the AAAS where examine the impact of emerging technologies on the way we produce food and how we can leverage that technology to build a better and more resilient food system. Michelle Canfield is a farmer and an electrical engineer in the medical device industry by day and in her free time does education and outreach around quantitative genetics for seedstock selection.SHOW NOTES:http://www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2020/10/21/est...
The New Cowgirl with Beth Robinette
August 29, 2020 21:04 - 1 hour - 45.7 MBHow do new and first-generation ranchers find the hands-on knowledge and mentors needed to become successful? We’re increasingly seeing first-generation farmers and ranchers turning to agriculture as their chosen career. But what do you do when you haven’t been raised on the ranch? The New Cowgirl Camp fills the gap! Beth Robinette is a fourth-generation cattle rancher in Washington State. She is a co-founder and hosts the New Cowgirl Camp, an intensive beginning ranching course for women. Sh...
Microsoft FarmBeats with Zerina Kapetanovic
March 22, 2020 18:48 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBZerina Kapetanovic is at the intersection of technological innovation and food production. She’s working with Microsoft’s FarmBeats team to enable data-driven farming. Microsoft believes that data, coupled with the farmer’s knowledge and intuition about their own farm, can help increase farm productivity, and also help reduce costs. The team are building several unique solutions using low-cost sensors, drones, and vision and machine learning algorithms.LETS CONNECT:twitter.com/femalefarmersww...
Women for the Land: with Dr Gabrielle McNally of American Farmland Trust
March 08, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MBStatistics don’t lie. The future of agriculture is increasingly female. In conversation with Dr Gabrielle McNally of American Farmland Trust’s new initiative - Women for the Land. We discuss the nearly one million women farm operators and over half-a-million additional women landowners who lease their land to farmers and the policies and programs that have supported women farmers and which ones have left them behind.SHOW NOTES:www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2020/3/5/women-for-the-lan...
Empowering Female Farmers in Africa with Ruramiso Mashumba
February 24, 2020 17:37 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBRuramiso Mashumba farms in eastern Zimbabwe. She grows indigenous organic grains including maize, whole brown rice, sorghum, millet and gumtrees. She also grows peas for export and breeds cattle. Ruramiso holds an Agriculture Business Management degree from the University of West England and University of Iowa. She has 10 years’ experience in agriculture and has served in leadership roles as well as winning many awards and fellowships. She is passionate about empowering women in Africa to com...
The Land of Milk and Money - Women in Dairy
February 03, 2020 20:28 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBMadeline and Abbe Turner, a mother-daughter farming team from Lucky Penny Farm join us to discuss their new book that celebrates a community of women in dairy who as entrepreneurs are growing local businesses and cultivating the next generation of thriving family farms, meaningful livelihoods, and sustainable enterprises.Shownotes: www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2020/2/3/the-land-of-milk-and-money-women-in-dairyLETS CONNECT!!twitter.com/femalefarmerswww.instagram.com/rootedinthevalle...
'Inherit it or Marry it' - women accessing farmland with Dr Ryanne Pilgeram
December 01, 2019 23:48 - 55 minutes - 37.9 MBA discussion with Dr. Ryanne Pilgeram about her decade long research about women in agriculture and the social, financial and other barriers they contend with including the acquisition of land. Historically women have been excluded from owning land and locked out of the successorship of generational farmland. Land ownership is the great tell of inequality in communities. Women not only have to be creative in navigating the acquisition of land and financing, but they are having to move further...
Afro-American Storytelling with Queen Sugar author Natalie Baszile
September 05, 2019 18:04 - 1 hour - 47 MBQueen Sugar author Natalie Baszile joins us on our Cultivating Culture series to discuss the writing of stories about the African American experience including land ownership, intergenerational wealth, inheritance, land loss, mass incarceration, police brutality and other systems of oppression.Find us onhttps://twitter.com/femalefarmershttps://www.instagram.com/rootedinthevalley/https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFarmerProject/www.femalefarmerproject.orgShow Notes: http://www.femalefarmerproject....
Farming on YouTube - with WTFarm Girl, Suzanne Cook
August 22, 2019 22:09 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MBAn article recently declared that farmers are making more money online with YouTube videos than on their farm. WTFarmGirl, Suzanne Cook is one of those YouTubers – she's a first-generation farmer who shares her journey with her 41k subscribers. Get in touch: Twitter @ femalefarmers Instagram @ rootedinthevalleyFacebook /FemaleFarmerProjectwww.femalefarmerproject.orgShow notes: www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2019/8/22/farming-on-youtube-with-wtfarm-girl-suzanne-cook
A path of purpose, the story of Earthkind ® with Kari Warberg Block
June 28, 2019 22:19 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBKari Warberg-Block is a female farmer and mother that was once on food stamps. She now is among the most successful business women in the United States. She started her company with nothing more than a package of garden seeds and a vision. Her $20 million dollar company, EarthKind began from her kitchen table, she sold her first products at her local farmers market and now she’s on shelves in every town. Come learn about her journey, her thoughts on leadership and how she leads her company wi...
At the farm table with Lylah Ledner of The Simple Farm
June 12, 2019 04:03 - 42 minutes - 29 MBLylah built her farm and farm businesses in a really unique and special way – not around efficiency, or production but around tables. Grab a cup of coffee and join us at Lylah’s table. Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleyFacebook /FemaleFarmerProjectwww.femalefarmerproject.orgShow notes: www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast…h-micha-ide
Off-Farm Jobs and Side-Hustles with Micha Ide
May 30, 2019 05:36 - 1 hour - 41.5 MBIn the 2017 Ag Census data it showed that 66% of the responding female farmer-operators had an off-farm job. Micha Ide joins us to talk about her off-farm jobs and side-hustles all while farming full-time.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleyFacebook /FemaleFarmerProjectwww.femalefarmerproject.orgShow notes: http://www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2019/5/29/off-farm-jobs-and-side-hustles-with-micha-ide
From Gun Violence to Homesteading with Chantel Johnson
May 17, 2019 01:38 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MBIn the first of our Cultivating Culture series, host Melony Edwards welcomes Chantel Johnson from Off Grid in Color. Chantel’s shares her experience being personally affected by gun violence and her journey to homesteading in the rural South. She talks about access to pastured meat production for disadvantaged communities and how land access is her biggest obstacle.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleyFacebook /FemaleFarmerProjectwww.femalefarmerproject.orgShow not...
Cultivating Culture with Melony Edwards
May 03, 2019 21:52 - 43 minutes - 30 MBFemale farmers of color are the marginalized group within a marginalized group within agriculture. They live at the intersection of racism, sexism and classism.Melony Edwards, farmer and chef is joining the Female Farmer Project Podcast in her own series - Cultivating Culture where we are initiating the conversation with BIPOC farmers and those within the food system about racism, bias, and discrimination. justice issues.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleyFaceboo...
Growing Good Food with Acadia Tucker
April 08, 2019 15:21 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBAcadia Tucker’s longtime love affair with perennial foods has produced an easy-to-understand guide to growing and harvesting them. A regenerative farmer deeply concerned about global warming. Tucker believes there may be no better time to plant these hardy crops. Tucker lays the groundwork for tending an organic, regenerative garden. For her, this is gardening as if our future depends on it, and she spells out why.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleyFacebook /Fema...
Food Safety and Growing Wealth in Local Food Economies
March 19, 2019 18:33 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBTools to help small food producers and processors grow and scale their business. We discussed solving the hard problems that foodpreneurs face, whether it is government regulations, customer expectations, or employee problems.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleywww.femalefarmerproject.orgShow notes that include the workbook download: http://www.femalefarmerproject.org/the-podcast/2019/3/18/foodsafety
Mentors, Social Media and Farming with Kelsey Jorissen
February 28, 2019 19:55 - 38 minutes - 53.2 MBKelsey Jorissen is a female farmer, writer, photographer, and educator that farms on five acres in Southeastern Wisconsin. She shares her thoughts on farming business mentors and using social media to effect change. Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalley www.femalefarmerproject.org
art + ag: Angie Provost
February 13, 2019 03:37 - 39 minutes - 27 MBAngie Provost, puts a lens to the racism and discrimination that still exists in the agriculture industry. While painting is a balm that helps Angie cope with the stress of losing their land and livelihood after decades of discriminatory practices, it’s also a canvas that enables her to speak the truth and to fight back.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleywww.femalefarmerproject.org
Farm Enterprise: Butchers, Bakers, Goat Cheese Makers
February 05, 2019 19:59 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MBLora Lea Misterly of Quillisascut Farmstead Cheese and School of the Domestic Arts shares her unique business models that she attributes to the 36 year success of her farm and have turned out hundreds of butchers, bakers and goat cheese makers into the world.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleywww.femalefarmerproject.org
art + ag: Meagan Burns
January 14, 2019 18:07 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBMeagan Burns is an avid sketcher and the marketing director for the one of the only organic, grass-fed, grass-finished cattle ranches in Mexico.
grrls meat camp: Kate Hill
December 20, 2018 16:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBKate Hill is a published author and professional cook of 30 years, in 1991 she founded Camont as a cooking school and retreat in the Gascony region of France. Kate is also the founder of GRRLS Meat Camp and an expert in the tradition of French charcuterie
art + ag: Jessica Gigot
December 10, 2018 01:11 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBDr Jessica Gigot is a Skagit Valley farmer, musician, scientist, educator and poet. Her exploration of culture, tilth and territory is captured in her most recent book of poetry, Flood Patterns.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleywww.femalefarmerproject.org
Female Farmers in Politics
October 27, 2018 18:51 - 47 minutes - 32.3 MBWomen - especially women of color and rural women are historically underrepresented in leadership roles. An unprecedented number of women are running for political office in 2018, counted among them are many women farmers. These women, if elected, will bring diversity and provide a much-needed voice for these marginalized communities.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleywww.femalefarmerproject.org
Future Farmers of America: A Conversation with National President Breanna Holbert
October 13, 2018 18:23 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBBreanna Holbert, the 2017-2018 National FFA President is wrapping up her year of serving as an ambassador - traveling all over the United States to help encourage young people to pursue their path in agriculture. She shares her journey and the things she’s learned along the way.Get in touch: Twitter @femalefarmers Instagram @rootedinthevalleywww.femalefarmerproject.org
Girls Can Be Farmers Too!
June 22, 2018 14:25 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBWe first learned of Eleni, a chicken farmer in Central Washington State when she was 10-years old, now at 11 she is wise beyond her years. This episode will inspire young girls and the most seasoned of farmers!
Childcare: Motherhood and Farming
May 10, 2018 23:33 - 58 minutes - 39.9 MBThis special Mother's Day episode focuses on childcare and how it influences decisions on farm business, division of labor for farm and home, productivity and the stress of the social and financial implications.
Women's Work: the journey
April 24, 2018 15:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBThe making of a documentary film to honor women’s role in agriculture throughout history with historian Dr Rose Hayden-Smith and researcher Greta Hardin.
Farming with disabilities: Carey Portell
March 09, 2018 22:09 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBCarey Portell was severely injured in a head on accident with a drunk driver, her life forever changed. After two years in a wheelchair, Carey returned to farming with AgrAbility's help.
Women's Work Announcement
March 02, 2018 20:46 - 2 minutes - 2 MBAn announcement for International Women's Day!
Urban Farming in Iowa with Jenny Quiner
February 15, 2018 22:01 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBFarming in Iowa is not all unusual, but urban farming is definitely in the minority. Jenny Quiner is a vegetable farmer in Des Moines, IA - in this episode she shares her 'speedbumps and hiccups' while navigating regulations, policies and the learning curve in bringing this type of agriculture to Iowa.
Women, Food and Agriculture Network
February 02, 2018 04:23 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MBBridget Holcomb, executive director of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network shares her steps to creating a network of support for women in farming.
A Year in Review - looking forward to 2018
January 12, 2018 18:50 - 13 minutes - 9.4 MBA Year in Review - Audra and Kate recap the past year's episodes and lessons learned, and give a peek into the episodes coming in 2018.
TOUGHER: Workwear by Women for Women
December 12, 2017 01:49 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBTOUGHER was founded in 2015 when founder and former Iowa farm kid, Stacey Gose reached her peak of frustration over how poorly women are served by the workwear industry. She was simply tired of shopping for menswear and she knew other women were too.